[Drone photography] really sets you apart and shows you’re trying to do something different from the pack.

— Liza Mendez, Realtor

Attracting buyers to your listing is always a challenge. With so many properties available online, how do you get buyers to click on your home's listing?

Aerial imagery will become increasingly popular this year. To help central Illinois agents and homeowners better market their properties for sale, I'm adding drone photography and videography services. This home in Princeville, Illinois, just north of Peoria, was an excellent candidate for some spectacular aerial images. Getting the camera off the ground is the only way to make these kinds of pictures.

To create these photographs, I used a DJI Mavic Pro. Although practically a drone, DJI markets this quadcopter as a "flying camera." And, as you can see, it works very well for that task.

While the first three photographs were made with the drone, this last image wasn't taken from the sky. I mounted my camera on a painter's pole and made the picture that way, a technique called "pole aerial photography" (or PAP in the lingo). The camera sits atop the pole and is remotely controlled with an app on my phone.

One of my boys joined me on a shoot recently and took a couple pictures of me using the pole while I photographed a building (see below). He likes to call it my giant selfie stick.

Whether with the pole or from 200 feet up with the drone, these are the kinds of images that can help you attract buyers when you're selling your home. If you're in central Illinois (Bloomington/Normal, Springfield, Peoria), please drop me a line if you're interested in exploring drone photography for your listing.

And, yes, I am certified by the FAA, properly insured, and authorized to fly in the Class G airspace around Princeville—since you asked.